Matrix washer and drier



Aug. 5, 1969 c. F. ROBERSON MATRIX WASHER AND DRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 17, 1967 \NVENTOR \9/ CHARLES F. ROBERSON BY M, em $1MATTORNEYS 5, 1969 c. F. ROBERSON 3,459,202

MATRIX WASHER AND DRIER Filed Aug. 17, 1967 Y 2 Sheets-Shet 2 v lNVENTORCHARLES E ROBERSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,459,202 MATRIXWASHER AND DRIER Charles F. Roberson, 3842 S. Olney, Indianapolis, Ind.46227 Filed Aug. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 661,445

Int. Cl. B08b 3/04 US. Cl. 134-99 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Anapparatus for cleaning articles such as type matrices comprising aholder for such articles, a reservoir for containing a cleaning liquid,the holder being receivable in the reservoir so that the articles arewholly submerged in such liquid, and means for agitating the holder insuch liquid. The holder may be a matrix magazine from a Linotypemachine, in which case, the magazine is reciprocated in the direction ofits tracks effectively to agitate the matrices individually in theliquid contained in the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment of myapparatus, means are provided for rinsing and drying the articles whilethey are in the reservoir.

The present invention relates generally to washers and driers, and moreparticularly to the provision of an apparatus for cleaning articles suchas type matrices, which articles are contained in a holder such as amagazine of a Linotype machine.

A type matrix is a mold in which printers letters are cast. Immediately,therefore, the matrix assumes a position of paramount importance to theprinter because the ultimate quality of his product lies in theperfection of the type mold, or matrix. Thus, the importance of propermatrix care cannot be overly stressed.

In the first place, matrices must be cleaned periodically to preventwhat is commonly called hairlines in the printed matter. Hairlines arecaused primarily by dirty matrices. That is, in a perfectly justifiedline, there is always a slight amount of air space between the matrices,but not enough to permit metal (hot lead) to pass between adjacentmatrices. However, if the matrices are dirty and there is an increasedamount of space between the matrices, the hot metal, under the pressureof a plunger in the Linotype machine, will flow between adjacentmatrices.

Presently, however, it is quite difiicult and time-consuming to cleanthe matrices used in a Linotype machine. In fact, it is a commonpractice to remove several matrices from their magazine, place them intoa holder, and clean them with a wire brush while they are in the holder.Since there are thousands of matrices in a Linotype machine, cleaningtakes a great deal of time when such manual techniques are used.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide an apparatus forcleaning an entire magazine full of matrices at the same time and whilethe matrices are contained in the magazine. Thus, I have provided areservoir for containing a cleaning liquid, means for positioning themagazine in the reservoir so that the matrices are wholly submerged insuch liquid, and means for agitating the magazine in such liquid. In thepreferred embodiment of my invention, I reciprocate the magazine in thedirection of its tracks effectively to agitate the matrices in theliquid contained in the reservoir.

Since the matrices are fabricated from brass, I have found it desirablequickly to rinse the matrices after they are agitated in a cleaningliquid and, then, quickly to dry the matrices. In still a furtherpreferred embodiment of my invention, means are provided for rinsing anddrying the matrices while they are in the above-mentioned reservoir andwhile they are being agitated.

It is still another object of my invention to provide such a cleaningapparatus comprising a carriage for supporting a magazine of a Linotypemachine, the carriage being supported for reciprocation on track meansextending downwardly into the reservoir which contains the cleaningliquid.

Still further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially sectioned, of a preferredembodiment of my cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view similar to the view of FIG. 1 exceptthat the matrix magazine and the carriage on which the matrix magazineis mounted are shown disposed in the reservoir and the hot-air source isshown connected to the upper end of the reservoir;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned view of the reservoir taken from theright-hand side of FIG. 2 and showing the manner in which the carriageis received in the reservoir, the outline of the matrix magazine beingindicated in dashed lines and the spray tube being shown in its useposition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken from FIG. 3generally along the line 44 to show the roller means which movablysupports the carriage in the reservoir; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged, sectional view taken from FIG. 3generally along the line 5--5 and showing the manner in which thecarriage is connected to the driving means which reciprocates thecarriage and further showing the spray tube arranged to direct a rinsingspray downwardly into the matrix magazine.

Referring particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that I haveillustrated a cleaning apparatus, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 10, for cleaning a number of small articles which are carried ina holder. The apparatus 10 is ideally suited for cleaning type matricesof the kind used in Linotype machines while the matrices are containedin the matrix magazines of such Linotype machines. Although thefollowing description is directed toward the cleaning of type matrices,it will be clear that the principles of my invention are equallyapplicable to the cleaning of other articles.

The apparatus 10 comprises a lower, horizontal frame 12, which ispreferably supported on wheels 14, upstanding frame members 16 and aplatform 18 supported on the members "16.

A storage tank 20 is mounted on the rear end (lefthand end as viewed inFIG. 1) of the frame 12 and a reservoir, indicated generally by thereference numeral 22, is mounted on the forward end of the frame 12. Apump 24, which is driven by a motor 26, is mounted on the frame 12between the upstanding frame members 16, the pump 24 being connected tothe storage tank 20 by a conduit 28 and to the reservoir 22 by a conduit30. The pump 24 is arranged alternatively to pump liquid from the tank20 into the reservoir 22 and, then, from the reservoir 22 back into thetank 20 which may thus be considered to be a second reservoir.Preferably, the pump 24 is arranged to pump the liquid to the levelindicated by the reference numeral 32 in FIG. 1, which level issu-fficient wholly to submerge the matrices when the magazine isdisposed in the reservoir as shown in FIG. 2.

The pump 24 is conventional and, therefore, the pump and the controlsnecessary to operate the pump alternatively to transfer liquid betweenthe storage tank and the reservoir 22 do not have to be discussed inthis description.

I have also provided a source of hot, dry air, indicated generally bythe reference numeral 34, which is utilized to dry the matrices afterthey are washed and rinsed. The source 34 may be any sort ofheater-blower arrangement. Such heater-blower arrangements are alsoconventional and need not be discussed in this description.

I have also provided a hood 36 which is arranged to be placed over theupper, open end of the reservoir 22, as shown in FIG. 2, to direct hotair downwardly into the reservoir 22 to dry the matrices, the hood 36being connected to the source 34 by the flexible duct 38. When the hood36 is not being used as shown in FIG. 2, it may be supported on thebracket 40 as shown in FIG. 1.

The reservoir 22 comprises a front wall 42, back wall 44, and side walls46 and 48. The lower end, indicated generally by the reference numeral50, of the reservoir 22 is formed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so thatliquid in the reservoir 22 will drain out through the spout 52 which isclosed by the cap 54. The upper end, indicated generally by thereference numeral 56, of the reservoir 22 is open as shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a panel 58 whichextends laterally across the reservoir 22 from the side 46 to the side48 and downwardly into the reservoir to the point indicated by thereference numeral 60 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the panel 58 being generallyparallel to the back wall 44. Thus, the panel 58 divides the reservoir22 into a first chamber 62 which is adjacent the back wall 44 and asecond chamber 64 which is adjacent the front wall 42, both of thechambers 62 and 64 being open at their tops. Referring to FIG. 2, itwill be seen that, in the illustrative embodiment, the hood 36 isarranged to close the upper, open end of the chamber 62. Thus, the hot,dry air which is supplied from the source 34 will be directed downwardlythrough the chamber 62 and then upwardly through the chamber 64 assuggested by the arrows 66. The chamber 64, therefore, provides meansfor exhausting the air which is forced down into the chamber 62.

The back wall 44 is at an obtuse angle relative to the horizontalplatform .18. Mounted in the center of the Wall 44 on its inside surfaceis a track 68 which extends from the upper end of the wall 44 to itslower end. In the illustrative embodiment, the track 68 is constructedby welding or otherwise securing a pair of channel members 69 to theback wall 44 as shown in FIG. 4.

I have provided a pair of brackets 70 and 72 arranged for reciprocationon the upper portion of the back wall 44. Each bracket 70, 72 issupported by roller means, indicated generally by the reference numeral74 riding on the inside surface of the wall 44 and additional rollermeans, indicated generally by the reference numeral 76, riding on theoutside surface of the Wall 44. Thus, each bracket 70, 72 is arranged toreciprocate in the direction of the arrow 78 (FIG. 5) which is parallelto the wall 44. The reciprocable brackets 70 and 72 are connected by abar 80 which extends across the back of the reservoir 22, the bar 80being fastened to the brackets 70 and 72 by means such as theillustrated screw 82.

In order to reciprocate the brackets 70 and 72, I have provided a motor84, an eccentric block 86 and a rod 88 connected between the eccentricblock 86 and the bar 80. Specifically, the eccentric block 86 is mountedon the output shaft of the motor 84 and the lower end of the connectingrod 88 is connected to the eccentric block 86 by means of a pin 90 whichis journalled in the eccentric block 86 at a point displaced from theaxis of the output shaft of the motor 84. The upper end of theconnecting rod 88 is pivotally connected to the bar 80 as indicated bythe reference numeral 92. Thus, when the motor 84 is energized, thebrackets 70 and 72 will be reciprocated. It will be apparent that themotor 84 must operate at a speed less than the normal speed of anelectric motor.

Each of the brackets 70, 72 is provided with a hook portion 94 as shownin FIG. 5. The hook portions 94 are provided to support a carriage,indicated generally by the reference numeral 96, on which the matrixmagazine 98 is mounted, when the carriage 96 and the magazine 98 aredisposed in the reservoir 22 as shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, thecarriage 96 comprises a pair of brackets 100, one of which is clearlyshown in FIG. 5, and each of which is engageable with one of the hookportions 94.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the carriage 96 furthercomprises a rigid frame consisting of an upper cross bar 102, a lowercross bar 104, side bars 106 and 108 and spaced apart center bars 110and 112, all of the bars 102, .104, 106, 108, 110 and 112 being weldedor otherwise securely fastened together. At each end of each of the bars102 and 104 is a clamping means, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 114, arranged releasably to fasten the magazine 98 to thecarriage 96. In the illustrative embodiment, each clamping means 114comprises a short bar 116, a stud 118 extending through an opening inthe bar 116 and a wing nut 120. Conventionally, a matrix magazine for aLinotype machine is provided with a pair of ridges 103 and extendinglaterally across the back thereof. Preferably, these ridges (shown inFIG. 2) fit snugly between the frame members 102 and 104 further tosecure the magazine on the carriage 96 when the carriage is reciprocatedalong the track 68.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that I have provided a pair ofrollers 122 for movably supporting the carriage 96 on the track 68, oneof the rollers 122 being journalled on the lower end of the bar and theother of the rollers 122 being journalled on the lower end of the bar112. Each of the rollers 122 is rollably carried between the opposingflanges of one of the channel members 69 comprising the tracks 68. Thus,as shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 96 is supported at its lower end by therollers 122 which engage the track 68 and at its upper end by thebrackets 100 which are engaged by the hook portions 94. In this manner,the carriage 96 is supported for reciprocation along the track 68.

A pair of handles 124 is provided for lifting the carriage 96 from thereservoir 22 and, then, when the rollers 122 are at the upper end of thetrack 68 as shown in FIG. 1, pivoting the carriage 96 downwardly ontothe platform 18. Each handle 124 is secured to the carriage 96 by meanssuch as the screws 126.

In order to move the carriage 96 from the platform 18 into the reservoir22, it is necessary to pivot the carriage 96 in the direction of thearrow 128 until the carriage is generally parallel with the track 68and, then to let the carriage move parallel with the track 68 (in thedirection of the arrow 130) until the brackets 100 are engaged with thehook portions 94. Thus, the carriage 96 is pivotally movable about thecommon axis of the rollers 122 and the rollers 122 are rectilinearlymovable along the track 68.

After the matrices in the magazine 98 have been agitated in the cleaningfluid, and the cleaning fluid has been pumped from the reservoir 22 backinto the storage tank 20, it is desirable to rinse the matrices withwater and/or steam. Thus, I have provided a spray tube 132 arranged tospray fluids downwardly into the open, upper end of the magazine 98 asshown in FIG. 5. In the illustrative embodiment, the spray tube 132extends laterally across the reservoir 22 and loosely through openings133 in each of the side walls 46 and 48. Further, the tube 132 isprovided with opposing bends 134 and 136 in each of its ends so that thetube 132 can be rocked from its position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to itsposition shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. That is, the tube 132 can be moved inthe direction of the arrow 137 (FIG. 2) through an opening 138 in thepanel 58 to place the openings 140 (FIG. 5) in the tube 132 in aposition to direct a spray uniformly downwardly into the magazine 98.

In order to close the opening 138 in the panel 58 when hot air is beingprovided through the hood 36, I have provided a shield 142 which isloosely and slidably mounted on the hood 36 by means such as the screw144 which extends through a slotted opening in the shield 142. I havealso provided slots, not shown, in the hood 36, which slots receive thereciprocable brackets 70 and 72.

In FIG. 3, the dashed line 98' represents the upper, open end of themagazine 98 and the dashed line 98" represents the lower, open end ofthe magazine 98. Thus, since the matrices are conventionally looselyreceived in tracks running from the upper end to the lower end of themagazine, the matrices are cleaned by agitation of the magazine in thedirection of its tracks.

When a magazine of matrices or the like is to be cleaned, such magazineis placed on the carriage 96 in the position of FIG. 1 and is securedthereto by the clamping means 114. The carriage 96 is then placed intothe reservoir 22 in the position of FIG. 2. The reservoir 22 is thenfilled with a cleaning liquid to the level 32, which, of course, will bethe level in chambers 66 and 68, and the magazine is agitated in theliquid. After a predetermined time, the cleaning liquid is pumped backinto the storage tank 20 and the matrices are rinsed with water from thespray tube 132. Preferably, the magazine is agitated during the rinsingstep. After the rinsing step, the hood 36 is placed in its use positionof FIG. 2. and the matrices are dried. Preferably, the magazine is alsOagitated during the drying step. After the drying step, the carriage 96is raised and pivoted onto the platform 18.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning an article comprising a reservoir, trackmeans arranged in said reservoir, carriage means for supporting saidarticle, said carriage means being supported for reciprocation on saidtrack means, driving means, means for connecting said driving means tosaid carriage means so that said carriage means will be agitated whensaid driving means is energized, first means for admitting a cleaningliquid to said reservoir wholly to submerge said article, second meansfor admitting fluid to said reservoir to rinse said article, third meansfor supplying fluid to said reservoir to dry said article, roller meansjournalled on one end of said carriage means, and a platform adjacentthe upper end of said reservoir, said platform being arranged to supportsaid carriage means transversely to said track means when said carriagemeans is removed from said reservoir, said carriage means beingpivotally movable about the axis of said roller means when said rollermeans is at the upper end of said track means, whereby said carriagemeans is movable from its position on said platform to a positiongenerally parallel to said track means.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second means comprises spraymeans disposed in said reservoir and arranged to direct fluid towardsaid article.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said third means comprises a hotair source and duct means for connecting said source to said reservoir.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said platform is generallyhorizontal and wherein said track means is arranged at an obtuse anglerelative to said platform.

5. An apparatus for cleaning type matrices comprising a holder for saidmatrices, a reservoir adapted to contain a cleaning liquid having anopening in its upper end, track means extending downwardly through saidopening into said reservoir, frame means for supporting said holder,roller means journalled on one end of said frame means, said rollermeans being engaged with said track means for movement therealong, agenerally horizontally extending platform adjacent the upper ends ofsaid reservoir and said track means, said platform being arranged tosupport said frame means when said roller means is at the upper end ofsaid track means, said frame means being pivotally movable about theaxis of said roller means and rectilinearly movable along said trackmeans, and drive means for reciprocating said frame means relative tosaid track means when said roller means is near the lower end of saidtrack means.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising a second reservoir andpump means arranged to transfer liquid from said second reservoir intosaid first-mentioned reservoir wholly to submerge said matrices and,then, to pump said liquid back into said second reservoir.

7. An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said holder is a conventionalmatrix magazine used in Linotype machines, and further comprising aspray tube disposed in said reservoir adjacent its upper end, said spraytube being arranged uniformly to spray fluid downwardly intO the openend of said magazine.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a hood arranged tocover the opening in said reservoir to direct fluid downwardly into theopening in said magazine, and duct means for connecting said hood to adry fluid source.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said duct means is flexible andwherein said hood is movable from its position covering said opening topermit said frame means to be removed from said reservoir and supportedon said platform.

10. An apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising a panel extendingacross said reservoir and downwardly into said reservoir to a pointadjacent the lower end of said reservoir, thereby dividing saidreservoir into first and second chambers, said track means beingdisposed in said first chamber, hood means arranged to cover said firstchamber and to direct fluid downwardly thereinto, and means forconnecting said hood means to a pressurized dry fluid source, saidsecond chamber having an opening in its top to provide an exhaust forthe dry fluid supplied from such fluid source.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 423,402 3/1890 Wilson 134-153 XR1,804,331 5/1931 Freund 134-32 2,112,365 3/1938 Guire et al 134-1202,347,608 4/1944 Owen 134-160 XR 2,485,673 10/1949 State 134-86 XRFOREIGN PATENTS 975,834 10/1950 France.

ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

